“Lady Olga! Please hurry and escape! The City of Darkness has been breached, and those humans have broken in!”
The crisp sound of gold coins and gems colliding exploded abruptly in the dead-silent bedchamber, followed by a dull sound of an eggshell cracking.
The pile of treasure in the corner of the wall seemed to suffer a small landslide, and several huge rubies rolled to the ground, revealing the dragon egg covered underneath.
A claw covered in moist, metallic-colored scales suddenly pierced through the thick eggshell, and dark red mucus splattered onto the gorgeous carpet with the Young Dragon’s struggling movements.
“What is that?!”
A low shout carrying biting killing intent rang out instantly.
The half-breed knight Chloe, dressed in form-fitting light armor, blocked in front of the queen almost the instant the sound appeared, her sharp sword already drawn, the tip pointing directly at the pile of wriggling treasure.
There was no trace of warmth in her eyes, which held mixed human and elf characteristics, and her body was as tense as a drawn bow, ready at any moment to cut down anything that might threaten the person behind her.
The small creature emitting a metallic cold light clumsily crawled completely out of the eggshell, its dark iron scales refracting a cold halo under the dim candlelight, and although the fleshy wings on its back were not yet fully spread, the prototype of a sky overlord could already be seen.
It shook its head and let out a low, hoarse cry that echoed in the spacious room.
“Is that… a dragon?”
Olga Discordia, who had been organizing her portable scrolls, stopped her movements.
She turned around slowly, her signature long black hair swaying gently with the movement, a flash of surprise crossing her stunningly beautiful face, but it was quickly replaced by a scrutiny belonging to a superior.
She did not show fear or affection like an ordinary woman; instead, she narrowed her long, slender phoenix eyes, her gaze sweeping over the small body like a blade.
“Your Majesty, please step back!”
Chloe did not look back, her voice still tense, her knuckles white as she gripped her sword, “It is a time of chaos right now, and the appearance of this thing is too strange. Perhaps it is a trick by those mercenaries… or an enemy trap. Let me kill it.”
The knight finished speaking and stepped forward, a faint light glowing on the blade, clearly intending to kill it in one strike.
“Wait, Chloe.”
Queen Olga’s lazy and magnetic voice stopped the knight’s action.
She reached out a long, honey-colored hand and rested it on Chloe’s shoulder armor, patted it gently, and then walked with elegant steps around the guard, heading straight for the pile of treasure.
“Your Majesty! It is too dangerous!”
Chloe wanted to stop her eagerly, but under the queen’s majestic sideways glance, she had to retract her steps, only able to stare at the Young Dragon even more vigilantly, the tip of her sword never deviating from the target’s neck.
Queen Olga stood a few steps away from the Young Dragon, looking down from a high position, a cold curve hooking at the corner of her mouth.
She could feel the vast magic power contained within this creature that had not yet fully awakened.
“A dragon among monsters… Hmph, to think such a rare superior monster would hide in my treasury to hatch.”
Queen Olga lifted her chin slightly, a trace of arrogance flowing in her eyes, “Although it is just a hatchling, the vitality of the dragon race is extremely tenacious. Compared to those filthy humans and lowly orcs, this fellow is qualified to become my slave.”
At this time, the shouting and killing outside the city seemed closer, and the dull sounds of impact made the floor of the bedchamber tremble slightly.
“There is not much time left, Your Majesty.” Chloe reminded through gritted teeth, her eyes glancing anxiously toward the window.
Queen Olga ignored the knight’s urging and suddenly reached out, a mass of dark purple, eerie light condensing in her palm.
That was the prelude to the domination sorcery she was proud of.
“Is this destiny?
At this moment when the City of Darkness falls, heaven has sent me a sharp blade to take revenge on the filthy humans.” The fire of ambition flickered in the queen’s deep eyes as she looked at the Young Dragon on the ground, as if looking at a handy weapon, “Take it, Chloe.
This little thing is more useful alive than dead.
If it dares to resist…
it won’t be too late to kill it then.”
The knight paused for a moment, then sheathed her sword; although there were still doubts in her eyes, her body had loyally executed the order.
She walked up quickly and roughly grabbed the Young Dragon by the scruff of its neck, lifting it up like a kitten, not caring at all that the still-dripping mucus stained her gauntlets.
“As you command, my queen.” Chloe stared coldly at the creature in her hand and warned in a low voice, “Don’t get any crooked ideas, monster. If you dare to hurt a single hair on Her Majesty, I will skin you alive with my own hands.”
At this moment, the Young Dragon let out a sigh in his heart.
[A dragon, I have really become a dragon.]
The Young Dragon was originally a human, and one day he was inexplicably sent to a place called the Main God Space.
Then, the Main God issued a task to him as a novice.
A dynamic map appeared in the center of the screen, which was the panoramic view of the Kuroinu World.
At the northern end of the map was the “City of Darkness” that had just been breached, which was once a prosperous Dark Elves stronghold.
And on the other end of the map, the glorious light points representing the Seven Shield Alliance were still shining, completely unaware that the fangs in the shadows had opened.
Immediately after, the task panel popped up detailed information.
It was not simple text, but accompanied by a fleeting holographic image—that was the cold and cunning gaze of the mercenary group leader Vult, and the unyielding yet desperate figure of the Dark Elves Queen Olga in the raging fire.
[Main Quest: Revival in the Darkness]
World Background: The mercenary group “Black Dogs” has just breached the Dark Elves’ stronghold “City of Darkness”.
Although Olga Discordia and her subordinates have temporarily escaped or been captured (depending on the player’s entry point), the defeat is set.
Olga wrote letters to her compatriots in her northern homeland, hoping they could come to the rescue, but her own kind believed that Olga had been defiled and had long since abandoned her.
Without intervention, what awaited her would be a white hell worse than death.
And the mercenary group, while superficially still loyal to the Seven Shield Alliance, was actually about to launch that famous betrayal and hunt.
Task Objective: Assist the Dark Elves Olga Discordia in rebuilding her regime and protect her under the double pincer attack of the Seven Shield Alliance and the mercenary group.
Victory Condition: Possess an independent, recognized city, and Olga must survive and establish a ruling status.
Failure Penalty: Eradication.
Intelligence Fog: The internal politics of the Seven Shield Alliance are intricate and complex.
The player must distinguish for themselves who is an ally and who is an enemy; there is no system prompt.
Tactical Suppression: The mercenary group leader Vult possesses extremely high tactical AI.
He will actively set traps, poison, sow discord, and even exploit the player’s psychological weaknesses based on the situation.
Real Damage: This world does not have an HP protection mechanism.
Severed limbs and organ damage are permanent injuries unless one possesses high-level healing magic.
[Special Perks/Mechanisms]
1.
Race Reforging (Unique Opportunity)
Given the extremely high mortality rate for novices, reincarnators are allowed to perform one physical reincarnation in this world, retaining consciousness and skills.
Optional List:
Human (Noble/Commoner): No racial bonus, but easy to blend into the Seven Shield Alliance, suitable for political maneuvering.
Orc/Demon Race: Physique enhancement, easily ostracized by humans, suitable for joining mercenary groups or survival in the wild.
Half-breed Dark Elf: Agility bonus, easier to gain Olga’s trust, low racial status.
Young Dragon (Hatchling/Sub-Dragon): Extremely high growth potential and physical resistance, initial combat power S-rank, but will immediately become a hunting target for BOSS-level factions across the entire map (high risk, high reward).
2.
Auxiliary System: [Bloodline Proliferation · Many Children, Many Blessings]
In this cruel world, individual power is insignificant.
Each time one mates with key female characters of this world (such as Olga, Chloe, Prim, etc.) or females with high potential and produces offspring, high amounts of exchange points, attribute points, or special bloodline skills will be rewarded based on the mother’s quality and the offspring’s potential.
Note: This system is a core means to quickly supplement combat power and establish a loyal force, not purely for entertainment.
“Please select your reincarnation race.”
At that time, he decisively chose the dragon race and reincarnated into his current form.
[Let’s check the stats first.]
Name: None
Gender: Male (Young Dragon)
Personality: Politically sensitive, rational and calm
Status: Being held (in Chloe’s hand), covered in mucus, weak (newborn)
Body Size: Body length 0.5 meters, shoulder height 0.4 meters.
HP: 150/150 (Young Dragon correction)
Stamina: 50/50
Mana: 80/80
Strength: 10 (Young Dragon base is high)
Agility: 6 (Hatchling is clumsy)
Endurance: 12 (Dragon scales newly born)
Intelligence: 4 (Human soul)
Perception: 5 (Dragon intuition)
Bloodline: Dragon Race (Sub-Iron Dragon) (S-rank potential, juvenile period)
Characteristics:
[Steel Dragon Scales: Extremely high physical resistance]
Extremely high physical resistance, ordinary swords are difficult to break through defense.
[Devour Growth: Can consume metal/minerals to evolve]
Core talent.
By consuming metals, minerals, and magic items, they can be directly converted into attribute points or evolution energy.
Skills:
[Dragon Might (Passive/Weak)]
Passive.
Generates a fear check against lower-ranking creatures, causing them to stiffen, have all attributes reduced, or flee.
[Mineral Vein Perception]
Can sense metal veins or magic ores in the surrounding environment.
[Bite Lv1]
Active, use teeth to bite the opponent.
Equipment: [None]
Items: [None]
Slaves: None
Exchange Points: 100
System Supplement: Humans, except for Intelligence which is 4, have other initial stats of 2; HP, Mana, and Stamina are all 20.
The small body was clamped in mid-air by those tense, sharp claws, but he could no longer feel any humiliation or discomfort.
The wet, sticky feeling that had just remained on his scales had long since been evaporated by the scorching fire in his chest.
At this moment, the newborn iron dragon only felt as if he were soaked in surging magma; an unprecedented sense of power was awakening from the depths of his limbs and bones, washing over every joint and every inch of his skeleton like a volcanic eruption.
[Is this… the power of a dragon? This is the existence I once craved but could never reach.]
The Young Dragon suddenly opened his newborn mouth, not because of Chloe’s strength, but a subconscious low roar, mixed with an infant-like cry and ancient majesty.
In the depths of those pitch-black, ink-like slit pupils that had just adapted to the light, it was not human inherent rational thinking, but replaced by pure, instinctive ecstasy and trembling.
That was the soul of a born conqueror and ruler, excited when seeing his future kingdom.
The bloodline memory inherited by the dragon race for hundreds of millions of years began to surge, and those instincts buried deep in the soul and flesh were thoroughly awakened.
He was no longer the student discussing theories in a political science class, but a dragon through and through.
A creature destined to be above all things.
That arrogance and desire for domination inherited from the bloodline, in an almost primitive and brutal posture, broke through all the shackles of his past human thinking.
Everything before him, this crumbling castle, the panicked humans and Dark Elves, were all as vulnerable as fragile clay sculptures.
What could only be an unattainable fantasy in human form had now become a reality within reach.
He could easily tear them apart, devour them, and make them submit.
And he could also more cleverly make them kneel willingly at his feet.
Using force, language, trade, benevolence, threats, and intimidation, he would build an eternal empire with violence and wisdom.
The young but increasingly full dragon heart beat like a war drum, each beat striking an ancient echo: Conquer, Control, Expand!
Those powerful existences that only existed in literary works would also become his hunting targets.
But at this moment, what surged in his heart was his ambition for this entire multiverse.
Build an empire!
[A vast territory encompassing countless worlds! Not the fragile and ridiculous city-states of humans, not the kingdoms of elves that hide in a corner, but an eternal nation forged by the supreme dragon race, by me—the Young Dragon of steel, the future Steel Dragon Emperor, with absolute force and wisdom. In this nation, all humble races will bow to the glory of the dragon. Their blood, labor, and wisdom will all contribute to the grand vision of the empire.]
[I want to make the world beneath my feet, this area called “City of Darkness”, and even the entire “Kuroinu World”, the cornerstone of my future path of conquest, and then step by step, spread my bloodline will to all existing worlds!]
In just an instant, the human past was thrown to the back of his mind.
A flash of light flickered in those dark red dragon eyes.
The Young Dragon’s originally curled hind limbs suddenly kicked off Chloe’s arm armor, and with that momentary explosive force, the slippery and hard body slid out from the knight’s fingers like a loach.
“Ugh!”
Chloe let out a muffled grunt, clearly not expecting this newborn hatchling to have such strange strength.
Before she could reach out to grab it again, that dark iron-colored figure had already plunged headfirst into the dazzling mountain of treasure nearby.
Without the slightest hesitation, the Young Dragon opened his mouth, filled with fine, sharp fangs, and began a frantic sweep of everything before him.
Several fist-sized sapphires were swallowed whole by him, followed by a pure gold necklace—a treasure gifted by a human king long ago—which was now slurped into his belly like a noodle.
Every chew was accompanied by the crisp sound of twisting metal and shattering gems; the Young Dragon’s throat pulsed continuously as those priceless treasures were transformed into energy within his body at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The Devour and Grow trait was working at full capacity, and the Young Dragon could clearly see his stats rising rapidly on his attribute panel.
HP: 160/160 (+10 Devour Minor Growth)
Stamina: 55/55 (+5 Eating Recovery)
Mana: 85/85 (+5 Mana Absorption)
Strength: 11 (+1 Devour Metal Enhancement)
Endurance: 13 (+1 Devour Gem Enhancement Dragon Scale)
“You greedy beast! That belongs to Her Majesty…”
Watching the magical beast devour her Queen’s treasures, Chloe frowned, subconsciously wanting to draw her sword to stop such a blasphemous act, but the Queen behind her let out a soft chuckle.
“Let it be, Chloe.”
Olga waved her hand lazily.
Her long, narrow phoenix eyes watched the Young Dragon devouring the food, devoid of any regret over the lost treasure, instead showing a hint of amusement.
“Anyway, this city is about to turn to ashes. Better to feed these inanimate objects to a future combat force than leave them to those lowly mercenaries. It seems this little guy knows exactly what he needs.”
“Besides, he seems to be growing rapidly.”
“But…” Before Chloe could finish, a violent roar suddenly exploded.
“BOOM—!!!”
The obsidian door, carved with exquisite magic patterns, shattered under a massive impact, and countless stones and dust swept into the bedchamber like a storm.
Heavy debris scattered everywhere as several fully armed figures charged in from the dust, their armor stained with blood.
“Found her! That’s the bitch Queen!”
“The boss said, first come, first served for her ass!”
Leading them was a burly mercenary with a face full of flab, holding a blood-dripping giant axe, his eyes flashing with lewd and greedy light.
Behind him, more mercenaries swarmed in like hyenas smelling blood, instantly blocking the exit.